This tells the story of the Knutsford nurseries and the six
generations of the Caldwell family who ran them for two centuries.

The first William Caldwell went to the Knutsford nursery of
John Nickson in 1780 as an apprentice when he was just 14 years old. Seventeen years later he returned to become a
part owner. From 1797 to 1992 there were
six William Caldwells, plus other members of the family.

The website includes photos of the surviving 14 ledgers from
the business and the first William Caldwell's Knowsley nursery. These ledgers (they date back to 1789) are
being transcribed into a database, so that you can discover who bought what
plants.

And that's not all. There are also recordings of the memories of Caldwell family,
staff and customers from the latter half of the twentieth century.

And you can find information about Caldwell customers and
their gardens; learn about the plants they grew; discover more about the
nursery trade in the north-west over more than two centuries.

We are adding to the website all the time and we have also
produced an exhibition and a book. To order a copy of the book, click below for PDF.